Active sports garments

ABSTRACT

An active sports garment having neck and arm openings therein is provided interiorly thereof with an absorbent lining comprising portions adjacent the neck and arm openings of the garment and extending about said openings. The lining absorbs perspiration generated by the wearer of the garment and comprises a base fabric and projecting pile elements operable to space the garment from the wearer&#39;&#39;s skin and provide aeration and ventilation therebetween.

United States Patent [1 1 Van Staagen [4 1 Oct. 14, 1975 ACTIVE SPORTS GARMENTS [75] Inventor: Eleanor Van Staagen, Rowayton,

Conn.

[73] Assignee: Gordon Clothes, Inc.,

Conshohocken, Pa.

22 Filed: July 5, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 485,920

[52] US. Cl 2/74; 2/97 [51] Int. Cl. A41D l/22 [58] Field of Search 2/73, 74, 75, 224 A, 224 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1941 Berin 2/ 74 l l/l952 Pritzker 2,642,571 6/1953 Brown 2/97 3,034,133 5/1962 Eilenberg i 2/97 3,307,550 3/1967 Neimer et al. 2/224 R X Primary Examinerl-i. Hampton Hunter Attorney, Agent, or FirmCharles H. Howson, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An active sports garment having neck and arm openings therein is provided interiorly thereof with an absorbent lining comprising portions adjacent the neck and arm openings of the garment and extending about said openings. The lining absorbs perspiration generated by the wearer of the garment and comprises a base fabric and projecting pile elements operable to space the garment from the wearers skin and provide aeration and ventilation therebetween.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent 0a. 14, 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,911,498

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,911,498

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 3 of 3 3,911,498

ACTIVE SPORTS GARMENTS This invention relates to new and useful improvements in active sports garments, and more particularly to active sports garments of the type worn when playing tennis, golf and other active sports.

Active sports garments, particularly those worn by women, customarily are in the form of dresses, blouses or shirts of the sleeveless type having arm and neck openings of substantial area affording maximum exposure of the wearers neck and shoulders to the surrounding atmosphere. In active sports such as tennis, the players perspire substantially in the neck, shoulder and under arm areas of the body with the result that the garments are subject to unsightly perspiration stains and become damp and even wet so that the garment tends to cling and adhere to the wearers skin in those areas thereby reducing the players comfort and freedom of movement and precluding ventilation between the wearers skin and the garment. Also, excess perspiration that is not absorbed by the garment accumulates in concentrated areas such as the center of the wearers back and armpits.

With the foregoing in mind, an object of the present invention is to provide an active sports garment of the type described having lining means characterized by a high degree of absorbency for perspiration internally of the garment extending at least substantially continuously about the neck and arm openings of the garment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an active sports garment having an absorbent lining as set forth comprising projecting means disposed to engage the underlying surface portions of the wearers skin and support the lining from the skin and provide aeration and ventilation therebetween thus tending to cool the wearer in the areas of contact with the garment about the neck and arms.

A further object of the invention is to provide active sports garments having absorptive linings having the characteristics described which are detachably secured in the garment so that the linings can be removed and replaced as desired when they become saturated with perspiration.

These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details thereof are hereinafter set forth and described in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a typical active sports garment having perspiration absorbent lining means in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the garment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the garment shown in FIG. 1; p FIG. 4 is a development view on line '44, FIG. 3 showing the interior of the garment opened out to illustrate details of construction and arrangement of the absorbent lining therein;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on line 5-5, FIG. 4 showing certain details of the garment;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views respectively showing alternative constructions and arrangements of absorbent linings for garments made according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view partially in perspective showing an absorbent lining and garment having means for detachably securing the lining in the garment.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a typical active sports garment such as, for example, a ladies tennis dress 1, having a neck opening 2 and right and left arm openings 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the dress 1 has a conventional back opening 4 comprising buttons 5 and loops 5a in the upper yoke portion thereof and a zipper 6 in the upper portion of the body of the garment.

In accordance with the present invention, the garment 1 is provided interiorly thereof with an absorbent lining generally designated L, comprising portions disposed adjacent the neck and arm openings 2 and 3 of the garment and extending about said openings. The lining L essentially is of highly absorbent material comprising, for example, a base fabric 7 provided at least on the surface thereof adjacent the skin of the wearer of the garment with projecting closely spaced pile elements 8 covering the entire surface of the lining. The lining L may also be provided with projecting pile elements 9 at the outer side of the base fabric 7 and between the latter and the garment l, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. A typical example of a suitable absorbent lining material L is conventional double-faced cotton terry cloth comprising base fabric 7 and pile loops projecting from opposite surfaces of the base fabric 7 as indicated at 8 and 9 in FIG. 5. The lining may also be a chenille, plush, or similar fabric of absorbent material.

The projecting pile elements 8 of the lining L engage the adjacent skin of the wearer of the garment and, being of absorbent material, function as wicks to transfer perspiration from the wearers skin to the fabric 7 and pile elements 9 of the lining. In addition, the pile elements 8 and 9 of the lining L function to space or offset the garment 1 from the skin of the wearer and provide aeration and ventilation between the wearers skin and fabric 7 of the lining and between the latter and the garment 1 thereby tending to dissipate or evaporate some of the moisture absorbed by the lining and cooling the wearer of the garment in the areas adjacent the lining L.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, the lining L comprises a front yoke section 10, back yoke sections 11 and 12, and underarm sections 13 and 14, respectively. In the construction shown, each of the lining sections, except the bottom edges thereof, has its edge portions folded inwardly to provide continuously about the peripheral edge of each section an inturned facing F which is disposed in confronting relation to inturned facing portions F provided on corresponding edges of the garment, for example, as more clearly shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. Each of the lining sections is secured to the garment by stitching through the confronting facing edge portions F and F of the lining and garment respectively as indicated at 15, and the bottom edges of the several lining sections 10, 11 and 12 are stitched directly to the garment along the fron t and rear V-shaped stitch lines 16 and 17, respectively, thereby defining the upper yoke portion of the garment l.

The invention, of course, is not limited to the particular construction of FIGS. 1 5 of the drawings, and numerous other lining constructions and arrangements may be provided in accordance with the present invention. For example, alternate constructions and arrangements of suitable absorbent linings L are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. Referring to FIG. 6, the

lining construction illustrated comprises a pair of armhole encircling lining portions 18 and 19, respectively, and an intermediate neck encircling portion 20. Each of the armhole lining portions 18 and 19 comprises front and back semi-circular sections stitched together at the top and bottom thereof, as indicated at 21 and 22, respectively. The outer edge portion of each armhole lining portion 18 and 19 is turned inwardly to provide a facing edge F through which the armhole lining portions are secured interiorly of the garment by stitching to a confronting facing edge portion of the garment as previously described, the outline of the garment being shown in broken lines. The intermediate neck lining portion is of one-piece construction comprising a front U-shaped portion 23 and back portions 24 and 25, respectively. The inner edge of the neck portion 20 is turned inwardly to provide a continuous edge facing F through which the neck lining section 20 is secured in the garment by stitching to a confronting inturned facing edge of the garment as previously described. In addition, the armhole lining sections 18 and 19 are stitched to the intermediate neck portion 20 as indicated at 26 and 27, respectively, to provide a unitary lining structure.

In FIG. 7 the garment lining L comprises front and back sections 30 and 31, respectively, each of onepiece construction stitched together at opposite sides of the lining beneath the armholes as indicated at 32, and at the top above the wearers shoulders as indicated at 33 and 34, respectively. As in the previous embodiments, in the lining arrangement shown in FIG. 7 the edge portions of the lining sections 30 and 31 surrounding the armhole and neck opening are folded inwardly to provide facing edges F through which the lining L may be stitched to a confronting inturned facing edge of the garment, the outline of which is shown in broken lines.

The present invention is not limited to a garment construction having an absorbent lining L that is permanently secured in the garment by stitching as described, and it is contemplated that the lining L may be detachably secured in the garment so that said lining may be readily and easily removed for replacement and laundering as desired. For example, as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the confronting facing edges F of the garment and the facing edges F of the lining L may have secured thereto respectively, the male and female portions 35 and 36 of conventional snap fasteners by means of which lining L may be readily inserted in and removed from the garment. Of course, in lieu of snap fasteners, cooperating buttons and button holes and other separable fastening means may be employed within the contemplation of the invention.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to a ladies sports dress, the invention is not limited thereto and is equally applicable to other ladies sports garments as well as to mens and childrens garments and sportswear. Also, it is not essential that the absorbent lining portions extend continuously about the neck and arm openings of the garment as illustrated in the drawings, and good re sults are obtained with absorbent lining portions that extend partially or substantially about the neck and arm openings.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the present invention provides a sports garment of the type described having a perspiration absorbent lining interiorly thereof extending at least substantially continuously about the neck and arm opening areas of the garment. The absorbent lining also comprises projecting pile elements that provide for aeration and ventilation between the garment and the skin of the wearer at least in the areas adjacent the neck and arms, resulting in a garment that is cooler and more comfortable for the wearer.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described for purposes of description and explanation, it is not intended that the invention be limited to such disclosures, and it is contemplated that changes and modifications may be made and incorporated within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sleeveless garment having therein a neck opening and a pair of arm openings disposed at opposite sides of said neck opening, and a lining of perspiration absorbent material secured interiorly of the garment in the'neck and arm opening areas thereof comprising lining portions disposed inwardly adjacent the neck and arm openings in the garment and extending about the peripheral edges of said openings, said lining comprising an absorbent base fabric having absorbent pile elements projecting from at least the outer surface thereof and disposed to engage the skin of the wearer of the garment, said absorbent pile elements functioning as wic-ks to transfer perspiration moisture from the skin of the wearer to the lining portions and operable to space the garment from the wearers skin and provide aeration and ventilation therebetween thereby evaporating moisture absorbed by the lining and cooling the wearerskin.

2. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lining comprises pile elements projecting from both surfaces of the base fabric thereof.

3. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein means is provided for detachably securing the absorbent lining in the garment.

4. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the perspiration absorbent lining is cotton terry cloth comprising a base fabric having pile loops projecting from at least the fabric surface adjacent the skin of the wearer of the garment.

5. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the perspiration absorbent lining is double-faced cotton terry cloth comprising a base fabric having pile loops projecting from the opposite surfaces of said fabric.

6; A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lining portions extend continuously about the neck and arm openings of said garment. 

1. A sleeveless garment having therein a neck opening and a pair of arm openings disposed at opposite sides of said neck opening, and a lining of perspiration absorbent material secured interiorly of the garment in the neck and arm opening areas thereof comprising lining portions disposed inwardly adjacent the neck and arm openings in the garment and extending about the peripheral edges of said openings, said lining comprising an absorbent base fabric having absorbent pile elements projecting from at least the outer surface thereof and disposed to engage the skin of the wearer of the garment, said absorbent pile elements functioning as wicks to transfer perspiration moisture from the skin of the wearer to the lining portions and operable to space the garment from the wearer''s skin and provide aeration and ventilation therebetween thereby evaporating moisture absorbed by the lining and cooling the wearer''skin.
 2. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lining comprises pile elements projecting from both surfaces of the base fabric thereof.
 3. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein means is provided for detachably securing the absorbent lining in the garment.
 4. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the perspiration absorbent lining is cotton terry cloth comprising a base fabric having pile loops projecting from at least the fabric surface adjacent the skin of the wearer of the garment.
 5. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the perspiration absorbent lining is double-faced cotton terry cloth comprising a base fabric having pile loops projecting from the opposite surfaces of said fabric.
 6. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lining portions extend continuously about the neck and arm openings of said garment. 